Derby hero High Chaparral dies at 15

High Chaparral, right, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, wins the 2002 Derby, from Hawk Wing. Picture: PA

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the son of Sadler’s Wells proved two lengths too strong for 9-4 favourite and stablemate Hawk Wing at Epsom, being ridden to glory by Johnny Murtagh.

A tweet from Coolmore read: “High Chaparral has been euthanised at Fethard Equine Hospital during exploratory colic surgery due to a perforated intestine.”

Mick Kinane elected to partner Hawk Wing at Epsom but was back on board for the Irish Derby at the Curragh, where High Chaparral was an easy winner from Sholokhov, leading home a 1-2-3 for Ballydoyle.

He did not run again until the Arc at Longchamp, in which he was third to Marienbard, and enjoyed further glory when travelling to Arlington Park in Chicago for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

O’Brien’s star returned as a four-year-old, beating Falbrav in the Irish Champion Stakes, again finishing third in the Arc, this time to Dalakhani, and then dead-heating with Johar in a pulsating Breeders’ Cup Turf.

In total he won ten of 13 career starts, earning almost £3.5 million in win and place prize money.

Kinane described High Chaparral as an “exceptionally good racehorse”.

“It’s sad news. He was a very tough, genuine horse and very talented,” he said.

“He won two Breeders’ Cups, the English and Irish Derby. He was an exceptionally good racehorse. He’s up there as one of the very good horses.”

As a sire High Chaparral produced the top-class So You Think and Toronado, as well as money-spinning southern hemisphere runners It’s A Dundeel, Shoot Out and Descarado.

Other stars of his stud career included Wigmore Hall, Redwood, Western Hymn and High Jinx. His name is set to live on at the highest level next season through Dermot Weld’s Free Eagle.

Meanwhile, there was a lot to like about the debut of Restraint Of Trade recently and it would be no surprise to see him win the Dundee Partnerships Novices’ Hurdle at Bangor.

The former Godolphin inmate was rated 95 on the level and already looks a shrewd buy at 16,000 guineas for the Jennie Candlish and Alan O’Keeffe team.

Making his hurdling debut at Aintree in an above average novice hurdle, he made eyecatching headway before finishing third behind two very promising types.

The winner, Ballyboley had won the Grade Two bumper at the Grand National meeting and the Paul Nicholls-trained runner-up Great Try could be very smart once sent over fences.

Restraint Of Trade had been off the track since May so was entitled to get tired close home. It is unlikely he will thrive in deep midwinter ground but Bangor is a sharp enough track and the ground is pretty decent for this time of year.

Lady Garvagh can add to her gains at Uttoxeter last month by pocketing the Yorton Farm Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.

Don’t Be carries the nap at Kempton, while John Gosden’s Made With Love is unlikely to be much of a price but can help pay the Christmas excesses at the same venue.